Find out how popular the last name El is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named El.

El, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the El surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of El in America

El is the 17596th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The El surname appeared 1,597 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname El.

We can also compare 2010 data for El to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name El

The surname "EL" is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region that is now known as Israel and the Palestinian territories. It is likely derived from the Semitic word "el," which means "god" or "deity." This word was used in various ancient languages spoken in the region, including Hebrew, Aramaic, and Phoenician.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "EL" can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where it appears as a component of various names, such as Israel, Bethel, and Ezekiel. These names often carried religious or symbolic significance, reflecting the importance of the concept of "el" in ancient Semitic cultures.

In the Middle Ages, the name "EL" began to appear more frequently in written records across the Middle East and parts of Europe. This was likely due to the spread of Jewish communities and the migration of people from the region. One notable individual bearing this surname was Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac, also known as Rashi (1040-1105), a renowned French Jewish scholar and commentator on the Talmud.

As time progressed, the name "EL" found its way into various European languages and cultures. In Spain, for instance, it was sometimes rendered as "Del" or "De El," reflecting the influence of the Arabic language and culture during the period of Moorish rule. One prominent figure with this variant was the Spanish philosopher and poet Solomon ibn Gabirol (1021-1058), also known as Avicebron.

In England, the name "EL" can be traced back to the 13th century, with records indicating its presence in various parts of the country. One notable individual from this period was Sir William El (fl. 1275), a landowner and knight mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire.

Over the centuries, the surname "EL" has been borne by numerous individuals from various backgrounds and professions. Among them are the Dutch theologian and philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), the French composer and music theorist Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), and the American inventor and businessman Elihu Yale (1649-1721), after whom Yale University is named.

While the surname "EL" may not be as widely recognized as some others, its long history and diverse cultural roots make it a fascinating subject of study for those interested in the origins and meanings of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name El

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname El.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for El was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of El has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name El was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of El, please contact us.

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